Travel to Taipei

1

About Taiwan

Taiwan, "Ilha Formosa" or "the beautiful island", so named by the Portuguese traders who spotted it from their ship in 1544, is a relatively small, rich and diverse sub-tropical island just off the south coast of China. Taiwan has a colorful history marked by Dutch, Spanish and Japanese influences that have fueled the culture, creativity and industriousness of the island and its people.

Taipei is the political, financial, and cultural lifeline of the island of Taiwan. At 272 square kilometres in size, the city proper is home to 2.68 million people, and boasting an enchanting natural landscape and rich cultural offerings. It is a modern metropolis with world-class shopping, dozens of great museums, a wide variety of excellent restaurants, and history, all connected seamlessly by one of the best public transportation systems in the world.

Copyright by Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

2

General Information

Language

Mandarin is the official language. English is spoken quite extensively.

Weather

Taipei enjoys warm weather all year round and is extremely suitable for travelling. The average temperature in March is 18.5℃. For more weather information, please visit the Central Weather Bureau. Please be sure to bring an umbrella or a jacket with you for sudden weather changes.

Credit cards

Most credit cards (VISA/ MasterCard) are widely accepted throughout the island. ATM machines are widespread. ATM’s can be found in most convenient stores.

Electrical supply

The local power supply is AC 110 Volt / 60 Hz with type A outlets, the same as the USA and Japan. The outlets also accept the same flat two-parallel pin plug as is used in the USA and Japan. Even though most hotels provide outlets for 220 volt appliances, travelers with electrical appliances that run on a different current from 110 volts will need to bring a converter.

Exchange rates

The New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) is the currency used today in throughout Taipei City. The exchange rate is around US$1 to NT$30. Like most countries, they come in the forms of bills and coins. Foreign currency exchanges are easy to access. Exchange services are available at the airport, banks, hotels and large department stores. For up to date exchange rates, please visit the currency website: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/.

Wi-Fi

Free public Wi-Fi services are available across Taipei city both indoors and outdoors. The SSID of Wi-Fi access is TPE-Free. Visitors within the countries listed as below can register here. before departing to Taipei, such that one may have access to the Wi-Fi service immediately after landing.

Australia

Canada

Egypt

France

Germany

Greece

India

Italy

Japan

Mexico

New Zealand

Saudi-Arabia

Singapore

South Africa

Spain

Switzerland

Thailand

Turkey

U.S.A

Vietnam

Visitors whose home countries are not listed will still be able to set up an account with valid passport or entry permit at one of the 11 Tourist Information Center in Taipei including Taipei Main Station and Songshan Airport. You may also register for Wi-Fi service at these major hotels.

In addition to the free Wi-Fi access, payable Wi-Fi accesses are also available in most of 7-11 convenience stores in Taipei City, and in coffee shops and restaurants like Starbucks or McDonald’s. Prepaid access cards can be purchased over the counter at the stores, and the costs vary.

Tipping

Tipping is not customary in most places, but is welcomed if guests wish to show their appreciation for satisfactory service. A 10% service charge and a 5% value-added tax may be included in room rates or meals. Most taxes are already included in prices of products or services.

3

Visa

Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 90 days:

Andorra

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark, Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Republic of Korea

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Monaco

the Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

San Marino

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

UK

USA

Vatican City State

*Effective from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017.

Nationals of the following countries are eligible for the visa exemption program, with a duration of stay of up to 30 days:

Malaysia

Singapore

If your country is not included in the above list and you need to apply for a visitor visa, please click here for detailed information or visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs for further information.

Should you need a visa support, please contact the Congress Secretariat at
info@snr2018.org

How to Get Around Taipei

Taxi

Taipei has a huge fleet of taxis. Charges are NT$70 for the first 1.25km and NT$5 for each additional 250 meters. An additional NT$5 is charged for every one and a half minutes of waiting, and a 20% surcharge is added to fares between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. All fares appear on the meter, except for a NT$10 charge for cabs dispatched by phone and for each piece of luggage placed in taxi trunk. Tips are not required.

City Bus

In Taipei, buses are one of the most convenient means of transportation. There are a number of different routes that can be studied online as well as the bus station. They come roughly every 10-15 minutes and the adult ticket fare is NT$15. No change is available on the bus, so please prepare the exact amount of coins ahead of time. Additionally, a "Taipei Pass" card which to check bus schedule, please click here.

MRT

The Mass Rapid Transit, or more commonly known as the MRT, provides travelers around the cities of Taipei an easy means of metro transportation. Passengers can enjoy a nice air conditioned ride to Maokong Gondola, Taipei 101, and other parts of Taipei filled with eatery, museums, and shops. One way ticket price ranges from NT$20 to NT$65. Auto ticketing slots are located in the stations for passengers to purchase tickets or recharge their multi-transit pass. Smoking, drinking, eating and gum chewing are strictly prohibited, keeping our metro railway stations clean and safe. Detailed MRT maps can be found at each station. You may also see the detailed MRT map here.

Taipei Pass

Taipei Pass is a digital card which delivers unlimited access to Taipei city public bus and MRT networks during the chosen period of time at a fixed price. It is available in different numbers of days, from NT$ 180 for 1 day pass up to NT$700 for 5 days pass and can be purchased at information counters at all Taipei MRT stations. Click for more information about Taipei Pass.

YouBike - Taipei's Public Bike Sharing System

YouBike was unveiled in 2009 as a convenient, alternative transport option to citizens. The Taipei City Government expects to set up 162 rental booths - with 5,350 bikes - across Taipei City by year-end 2013, promising the citizens even greater convenience to commute and shuttle between different destinations, the Taipei Metro, and a network of bus stops for last-mile traveling.